USF Drones Struck 12 Russia’s Shadow Fleet in Black Sea

On the night of July 17, the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) struck 12 vessels of Russia’s shadow fleet in the Black Sea waters.

This was stated by Robert ‘Madyar’ Brovdi – commander of the USF of the AFU.

Among the vessels attacked by drones were 9 dry-cargo ships, 1 tanker, 1 gas tanker, and 1 tugboat.

The commander shared that from July 6 to 17, Ukrainian aerial UAVs attacked 159 vessels of Russia’s shadow fleet in the Azov and Black Seas.

In total, 117 vessels were hit by the USF in the Sea of Azov, and 42 in the Black Sea.

Brovdi noted that the goal of these strikes is to halt the naval transportation of Russian oil, fuel, and cargo in circumvention of Ukrainian and international sanctions.

“We turn every self-propelled watercraft into a blind and deaf barge drifting at sea. The goal is not to pollute the waters with oil slicks, so hulls are not breached,” wrote the commander of the USF.

Yesterday, the Security Service of Ukraine’s Mamai naval drones also struck two tankers of Russia’s shadow fleet in the Black Sea.

The tankers Louise 1 and Banda, which are subject to Ukrainian sanctions and are used to transport Russian oil, were targeted. The operation was carried out in coordination with the Navy.